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{{short description|Hindi linguist}}
{{Short description|Indian literary critic, linguist and academic (1927–2019)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
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| name =  Namvar Singh  
| name =  Namvar Singh  
| image = bharat-s-tiwari-photography-IMG 2504 June 06, 2015.jpg
| image = bharat-s-tiwari-photography-IMG 2504 June 06, 2015.jpg
| caption = Namvar Singh speaking at the launch of 'Aalochana' vol 53-54 (published by [[Rajkamal Prakashan]]), at Rabindra Bhawan, [[Sahitya Akademi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/rajkamal-prakashan-bhartiya-jantantra-ka-jayja-discussion-sahitya-akademy-1-815739.html|title = एक परिचर्चाः भारतीय जनतंत्र का जायजा}}</ref>
| caption = Namvar Singh speaking at the launch of 'Aalochana' vol 53-54 (published by [[Rajkamal Prakashan]]), at Rabindra Bhawan, [[Sahitya Akademi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/rajkamal-prakashan-bhartiya-jantantra-ka-jayja-discussion-sahitya-akademy-1-815739.html|title = एक परिचर्चाः भारतीय जनतंत्र का जायजा| date=4 June 2015 }}</ref>
| native_name = Namvar Singh
| native_name = Namvar Singh
| native_name_lang =  
| native_name_lang =  
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| notableworks = ''Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman'', '' Chhayavaad '', '' Dusari Parampara Ki Khoj ''
| notableworks = ''Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman'', '' Chhayavaad '', '' Dusari Parampara Ki Khoj ''
| occupation = Writer, critic
| occupation = Writer, critic
| awards = 1971: [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] <br>1991: Shalaka Samman,Sahitya Bhushan Samman, Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar
| awards = 1971: [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] <br />1991: Shalaka Samman, Sahitya Bhushan Samman, Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar
| relatives = [[Kashinath Singh]] (brother)
| relatives = [[Kashinath Singh]] (brother)
| nationality = Indian
| nationality = Indian
}}
}}


'''Namvar Singh''' ([[Hindi]]: {{transl|hi|नामवर सिंह}}) (28 July 1926 – 19 February 2019) was an Indian literary critic, linguist, academician and theoretician.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hindi-author-Namwar-Singh-bucks-the-trend-questions-writers-returning-Sahitya-Akademi-awards/articleshow/49429237.cms|title=Hindi author Namwar Singh bucks the trend}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/politics/namvar-singh-what-will-marx-think|title=Namvar Singh: What Will Marx Think?|website=Open}}</ref> He received his doctorate degree from Banaras Hindu University where he also taught for some time. He served as a professor of Hindi literature in several other universities. He was the founder and first chairman of [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]'s Centre of Indian Languages and continued to remain as a professor emeritus after his retirement in 1992.
'''Namvar Singh''' (28 July 1926 – 19 February 2019) was an Indian literary critic, linguist, academician and theoretician.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hindi-author-Namwar-Singh-bucks-the-trend-questions-writers-returning-Sahitya-Akademi-awards/articleshow/49429237.cms|title=Hindi author Namwar Singh bucks the trend|website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/politics/namvar-singh-what-will-marx-think|title=Namvar Singh: What Will Marx Think?|website=Open|date=4 August 2016 }}</ref> He received his doctorate degree from Banaras Hindu University where he also taught for some time. He served as a professor of Hindi literature in several other universities. He was the founder and first chairman of [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]'s Centre of Indian Languages and continued to remain as a professor emeritus after his retirement in 1992.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Singh was born on 28 July 1926 in Jiyanpur village in [[Varanasi]] (now under [[Chandauli district|Chandauli]]) District of [[Uttar Pradesh]], India.<ref name="auto" /> He received his early education there. He then moved to Varanasi to pursue his further studies and did his matriculation and higher secondary education at [[Udai Pratap Autonomous College]], Varanasi.<ref name="auto" /> He enrolled in [[Banaras Hindu University]] (BHU) for higher studies, where he completed his bachelor's in 1949 and master's with gold medal in 1951. He got the Ph.D. under the supervision of [[Hazari Prasad Dwivedi]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rajkamalprakashan.com/default/jmproducts/filter/index/?author=112|title=Authors of Rajkamal Prakashan Group &#124; Namvar Singh|website=www.rajkamalprakashan.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4kDLPwWxO48C&q=namvar+singh&pg=PA435|title=Namvar Singh : Aalochna Ke Dusre Arampara|first1=Namwar|last1=Singh|first2=Kamalā|last2=Prasāda|first3=Rājendra|last3=Śarmā|date=20 February 2002|publisher=Vāṇī Prakāśana|isbn=9788170551454|via=Google Books}}</ref> His younger brother [[Kashinath Singh]] is also a writer.<ref name="NDTV_death" />
Singh was born on 28 July 1926 in Jiyanpur village in [[Varanasi]] (now under [[Chandauli district|Chandauli]]) District of [[Uttar Pradesh]], India.<ref name="auto" /> He received his early education there. He then moved to Varanasi to pursue his further studies and did his matriculation and higher secondary education at [[Udai Pratap Autonomous College]], Varanasi.<ref name="auto" /> He enrolled in [[Banaras Hindu University]] (BHU) for higher studies, where he completed his bachelor's in 1949 and master's with gold medal in 1951. He got the Ph.D. under the supervision of [[Hazari Prasad Dwivedi]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rajkamalprakashan.com/default/jmproducts/filter/index/?author=112|title=Authors of Rajkamal Prakashan Group &#124; Namvar Singh|website=www.rajkamalprakashan.com|access-date=17 September 2018|archive-date=17 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917105327/https://www.rajkamalprakashan.com/default/jmproducts/filter/index/?author=112|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4kDLPwWxO48C&q=namvar+singh&pg=PA435|title=Namvar Singh: Aalochna Ke Dusre Arampara|first1=Namwar|last1=Singh|first2=Kamalā|last2=Prasāda|first3=Rājendra|last3=Śarmā|date=20 February 2002|publisher=Vāṇī Prakāśana|isbn=978-81-7055-145-4|via=Google Books}}</ref> His younger brother [[Kashinath Singh]] is also a writer.<ref name="NDTV_death" />


==Career==
==Career==
After completing his Ph.D., Singh started teaching at Banaras Hindu University. For a brief period he also taught at [[Sagar University]]. His association with the two universities ended due to his [[communist]] activities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/books/namwar-singh-and-the-perils-of-inconsistency|title=From Red to Saffron, the Literary Journey of Namvar Singh|website=The Wire}}</ref> He later became a professor of Hindi at [[Jodhpur University]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/anything-but-epic/article7309931.ece|title=Anything but epic|first=Kuldeep|last=Kumar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=12 June 2015|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> At [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] (JNU), he created a new pattern of teaching and prepared the curriculum. He was the founder and first chairman of JNU's Centre of Indian Languages.<ref name="pustakNamvar">{{cite web |title=नामवर सिंह संकलित निबंध – नामवर सिंह Namvar Singh Sankalit Nibandh – Hindi book by – Namvar Singh |url=https://pustak.org/index.php/books/bookdetails/7830 |website=pustak.org |accessdate=20 February 2019}}</ref> He retired from JNU in the year 1992. After his retirement, he served as a professor emeritus at the Center of Indian Languages at JNU.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |title=मशहूर आलोचक डॉ नामवर सिंह को दी गई साहित्य अकादमी की महत्तर सदस्यता |url=https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/literature/litterateur-namvar-singh-honoured-by-sahitya-akademi-1674266 |accessdate=20 February 2019 |work=NDTVIndia}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/prof-namvar-singh-to-be-conferred-kuvempu-rashtreeya-puraskar-114092200722_1.html|title=Prof. Namvar Singh to be conferred Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=22 September 2014|via=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Administration/ProfessorEmeritus.asp|title=Professors Emeritus/Emerita, JNU|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115201938/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Administration/ProfessorEmeritus.asp|archivedate=15 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
After completing his Ph.D., Singh started teaching at Banaras Hindu University. For a brief period he also taught at [[Sagar University]]. His association with the two universities ended due to his [[communist]] activities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/books/namwar-singh-and-the-perils-of-inconsistency|title=From Red to Saffron, the Literary Journey of Namvar Singh|website=The Wire}}</ref> He later became a professor of Hindi at [[Jodhpur University]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/anything-but-epic/article7309931.ece|title=Anything but epic|first=Kuldeep|last=Kumar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=12 June 2015|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> At [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] (JNU), he created a new pattern of teaching and prepared the curriculum. He was the founder and first chairman of JNU's Centre of Indian Languages.<ref name="pustakNamvar">{{cite web |title=नामवर सिंह संकलित निबंध – नामवर सिंह Namvar Singh Sankalit Nibandh – Hindi book by – Namvar Singh |url=https://pustak.org/index.php/books/bookdetails/7830 |website=pustak.org |access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> He retired from JNU in the year 1992. After his retirement, he served as a professor emeritus at the Center of Indian Languages at JNU.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |title=मशहूर आलोचक डॉ नामवर सिंह को दी गई साहित्य अकादमी की महत्तर सदस्यता |url=https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/literature/litterateur-namvar-singh-honoured-by-sahitya-akademi-1674266 |access-date=20 February 2019 |work=NDTVIndia}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/prof-namvar-singh-to-be-conferred-kuvempu-rashtreeya-puraskar-114092200722_1.html|title=Prof. Namvar Singh to be conferred Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=22 September 2014|via=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Administration/ProfessorEmeritus.asp|title=Professors Emeritus/Emerita, JNU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115201938/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Administration/ProfessorEmeritus.asp|archive-date=15 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


In 1959, Singh unsuccessfully contested the [[Elections in India|general election]] as a [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI) candidate from the [[Chandauli (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chandauli]] constituency in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He polled over 18,000 votes, finishing a distant third. 5b <ref name="NDTV_death" />
In 1959, Singh unsuccessfully contested the [[Elections in India|general election]] as a [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI) candidate from the [[Chandauli (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chandauli]] constituency in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He polled over 18,000 votes, finishing a distant third. 5b <ref name="NDTV_death" />


Apart from his academic engagement, Singh worked as the editor of a weekly news magazine ''Janyuga'', and ''Alochana'', a Hindi magazine for literary criticism.<ref name="NDTV_death" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjsHCwAAQBAJ&q=Namvar+singh+award&pg=PT322|title=Today's Pasts: A Memoir|first=Bhisham|last=Sahni|date=10 November 2015|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9789385890192|via=Google Books}}</ref> Following his retirement from JNU he was appointed the Chancellor of [[Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya]], Wardha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/06/26/namwar-singh-appointed-chancellor-of-international-hindi-university-1151328010.html|title=Namwar Singh appointed Chancellor of International Hindi University|date=26 June 2006|website= Oneindia }}</ref> He also worked as the chairman of the [[Raja Rammohun Roy]] Library Foundation.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IBB8drHUz7YC&q=Namvar+singh+RRMRLF&pg=PR10|title=National Policy on Library and Information Systems and Services for India: Perspectives and Projections|first=Brahmanda Pratap|last=Barua|date=20 February 1992|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=9788171547302|via=Google Books}}</ref> Singh also served as the chairman of the selection board for the [[Jnanpith Award]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jnanpith.net/awards/jnanpith-award|title=JNANPITH AWARD, Present Selection Board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/marathi-novelist-bhalchandra-nemade-chosen-for-jnanpith-award/article6865738.ece|title=Marathi novelist Bhalchandra Nemade chosen for Jnanpith award|first=Satish|last=Nandgaonkar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=6 February 2015|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>  
Apart from his academic engagement, Singh worked as the editor of a weekly news magazine ''Janyuga'', and ''Alochana'', a Hindi magazine for literary criticism.<ref name="NDTV_death" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjsHCwAAQBAJ&q=Namvar+singh+award&pg=PT322|title=Today's Pasts: A Memoir|first=Bhisham|last=Sahni|date=10 November 2015|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-85890-19-2|via=Google Books}}</ref> Following his retirement from JNU he was appointed the Chancellor of [[Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya]], Wardha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/06/26/namwar-singh-appointed-chancellor-of-international-hindi-university-1151328010.html|title=Namwar Singh appointed Chancellor of International Hindi University|date=26 June 2006|website= Oneindia }}</ref> He also worked as the chairman of the [[Raja Rammohun Roy]] Library Foundation.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IBB8drHUz7YC&q=Namvar+singh+RRMRLF&pg=PR10|title=National Policy on Library and Information Systems and Services for India: Perspectives and Projections|first=Brahmanda Pratap|last=Barua|date=20 February 1992|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7154-730-2|via=Google Books}}</ref> Singh also served as the chairman of the selection board for the [[Jnanpith Award]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jnanpith.net/awards/jnanpith-award|title=JNANPITH AWARD, Present Selection Board|access-date=5 September 2018|archive-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320010124/http://www.jnanpith.net/awards/jnanpith-award|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/marathi-novelist-bhalchandra-nemade-chosen-for-jnanpith-award/article6865738.ece|title=Marathi novelist Bhalchandra Nemade chosen for Jnanpith award|first=Satish|last=Nandgaonkar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=6 February 2015|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>


Namvar Singh died on 19 February 2019 in [[Delhi]] at the age of 92.<ref name="NDTV_death">{{cite news |title=Acclaimed Hindi Author Namvar Singh Dies At 92 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/acclaimed-hindi-author-namvar-singh-dies-at-92-1996217 |accessdate=20 February 2019 |work=NDTV.com |date=20 February 2019}}</ref>
Namvar Singh died on 19 February 2019 in [[Delhi]] at the age of 92.<ref name="NDTV_death">{{cite news |title=Acclaimed Hindi Author Namvar Singh Dies At 92 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/acclaimed-hindi-author-namvar-singh-dies-at-92-1996217 |access-date=20 February 2019 |work=NDTV.com |date=20 February 2019}}</ref>


==Selected works==
==Selected works==
Singh has authored more than a dozen books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2016/06/namvars-kabir/|title=Namvar's Kabir|first=Kamlesh Verma कमलेश|last=वर्मा|date=15 June 2016|website=Forward Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2016/7/28/Namvar-Singh-Contribution-Hindi-Literature|title=Namvar Singh gets felicitated}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=147932|title=Shri Rajnath Singh Felicitates Prof. Namvar Singh at 'First Cultural Dialogue Series' of IGNCA|website=pib.nic.in}}</ref> Some of his works are:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7107006.Namvar_Singh|title=Namvar Singh|website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref>
Singh has authored more than a dozen books.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2016/06/namvars-kabir/|title=Namvar's Kabir|first=Kamlesh Verma कमलेश|last=वर्मा|date=15 June 2016|website=Forward Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2016/7/28/Namvar-Singh-Contribution-Hindi-Literature|title=Namvar Singh gets felicitated}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=147932|title=Shri Rajnath Singh Felicitates Prof. Namvar Singh at 'First Cultural Dialogue Series' of IGNCA|website=pib.nic.in}}</ref> Some of his works are:
* ''Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman'' {{ISBN|978-8-1267-0744-7}}<ref name="NDTV_death" />
* ''Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman'' {{ISBN|978-8-1267-0744-7}}<ref name="NDTV_death" />
* ''Chhayavaad'' {{ISBN|978-8-1267-0736-2}}<ref name="NDTV_death" />
* ''Chhayavaad'' {{ISBN|978-8-1267-0736-2}}<ref name="NDTV_death" />
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==Awards and recognition==
==Awards and recognition==
* [[Kendra Sahitya Academy Award|''Kendra Sahitya Akademi'' Award]] (1971) for his work ''Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman''.<ref name="NDTV_death" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/akademi%20samman_suchi.jsp|title=Akademi Award (1955–2016)|access-date=28 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084937/http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/akademi%20samman_suchi.jsp|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Kendra Sahitya Academy Award|''Kendra Sahitya Akademi'' Award]] (1971) for his work ''Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman''.<ref name="NDTV_death" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/akademi%20samman_suchi.jsp|title=Akademi Award (1955–2016)|access-date=28 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084937/http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/akademi%20samman_suchi.jsp|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''Shalaka Samman'' by Hindi Academy, Delhi<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bharatdiscovery.org/india/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8|title=शलाका सम्मान - Bharatkosh|website=bharatdiscovery.org}}</ref>  
* ''Shalaka Samman'' by Hindi Academy, Delhi<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bharatdiscovery.org/india/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8|title=शलाका सम्मान - Bharatkosh|website=bharatdiscovery.org}}</ref>  
* ''Sahitya Bhushan Samman'' by [[Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/vishesh-aalekh/story/835855.html|title=90 के नामवर : साहित्यिक योगी का जीवन जीते रहे हैं नामवर सिंह}}</ref>
* ''Sahitya Bhushan Samman'' by [[Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/vishesh-aalekh/story/835855.html|title=90 के नामवर: साहित्यिक योगी का जीवन जीते रहे हैं नामवर सिंह|date=28 July 2016 }}</ref>
* ''Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar'' by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Prathisthana<ref name="auto3"/>
* ''Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar'' by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Prathisthana<ref name="auto3"/>
* ''Bharat Bharati Samman''<ref name="pustakNamvar" />
* ''Bharat Bharati Samman''<ref name="pustakNamvar" />
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Hindi}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Hindi}}
dr namvar singh founder of narayani sahitya academy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Namvar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Namvar}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
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[[Category:Writers from Varanasi]]
[[Category:Writers from Varanasi]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi]]
[[Category:Hindi-language writers]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Banaras Hindu University alumni]]
[[Category:Banaras Hindu University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 07:49, 18 January 2026


Namvar Singh
Namvar Singh speaking at the launch of 'Aalochana' vol 53-54 (published by Rajkamal Prakashan), at Rabindra Bhawan, Sahitya Akademi[1]
Namvar Singh speaking at the launch of 'Aalochana' vol 53-54 (published by Rajkamal Prakashan), at Rabindra Bhawan, Sahitya Akademi[1]
Native name
Namvar Singh
Born(1926-07-28)28 July 1926
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, British India
Died19 February 2019(2019-02-19) (aged 92)
Delhi, India
OccupationWriter, critic
LanguageHindi
NationalityIndian
Alma materBanaras Hindu University
Notable worksKavita Ke Naye Pratiman, Chhayavaad , Dusari Parampara Ki Khoj
Notable awards1971: Sahitya Akademi Award
1991: Shalaka Samman, Sahitya Bhushan Samman, Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar
RelativesKashinath Singh (brother)

Namvar Singh (28 July 1926 – 19 February 2019) was an Indian literary critic, linguist, academician and theoretician.[2][3] He received his doctorate degree from Banaras Hindu University where he also taught for some time. He served as a professor of Hindi literature in several other universities. He was the founder and first chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru University's Centre of Indian Languages and continued to remain as a professor emeritus after his retirement in 1992.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Singh was born on 28 July 1926 in Jiyanpur village in Varanasi (now under Chandauli) District of Uttar Pradesh, India.[4] He received his early education there. He then moved to Varanasi to pursue his further studies and did his matriculation and higher secondary education at Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi.[4] He enrolled in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) for higher studies, where he completed his bachelor's in 1949 and master's with gold medal in 1951. He got the Ph.D. under the supervision of Hazari Prasad Dwivedi.[4][5] His younger brother Kashinath Singh is also a writer.[6]

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing his Ph.D., Singh started teaching at Banaras Hindu University. For a brief period he also taught at Sagar University. His association with the two universities ended due to his communist activities.[7] He later became a professor of Hindi at Jodhpur University.[8] At Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he created a new pattern of teaching and prepared the curriculum. He was the founder and first chairman of JNU's Centre of Indian Languages.[9] He retired from JNU in the year 1992. After his retirement, he served as a professor emeritus at the Center of Indian Languages at JNU.[10][11][12]

In 1959, Singh unsuccessfully contested the general election as a Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate from the Chandauli constituency in Uttar Pradesh. He polled over 18,000 votes, finishing a distant third. 5b [6]

Apart from his academic engagement, Singh worked as the editor of a weekly news magazine Janyuga, and Alochana, a Hindi magazine for literary criticism.[6][13] Following his retirement from JNU he was appointed the Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha.[14] He also worked as the chairman of the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation.[10][15] Singh also served as the chairman of the selection board for the Jnanpith Award.[16][17]

Namvar Singh died on 19 February 2019 in Delhi at the age of 92.[6]

Selected works[edit | edit source]

Singh has authored more than a dozen books.[18][19][20] Some of his works are:

  • Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman ISBN 978-8-1267-0744-7[6]
  • Chhayavaad ISBN 978-8-1267-0736-2[6]
  • Dusari Parampara Ki khoj ISBN 978-8-1267-1591-6[6]
  • Itihaas Aur Alochana ISBN 978-8-1267-0510-8

Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "एक परिचर्चाः भारतीय जनतंत्र का जायजा". 4 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Hindi author Namwar Singh bucks the trend". The Times of India.
  3. ↑ "Namvar Singh: What Will Marx Think?". Open. 4 August 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Authors of Rajkamal Prakashan Group | Namvar Singh". www.rajkamalprakashan.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Singh, Namwar; Prasāda, Kamalā; Śarmā, Rājendra (20 February 2002). Namvar Singh: Aalochna Ke Dusre Arampara. Vāṇī Prakāśana. ISBN 978-81-7055-145-4 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Acclaimed Hindi Author Namvar Singh Dies At 92". NDTV.com. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "From Red to Saffron, the Literary Journey of Namvar Singh". The Wire.
  8. ↑ Kumar, Kuldeep (12 June 2015). "Anything but epic". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "नामवर सिंह संकलित निबंध – नामवर सिंह Namvar Singh Sankalit Nibandh – Hindi book by – Namvar Singh". pustak.org. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "मशहूर आलोचक डॉ नामवर सिंह को दी गई साहित्य अकादमी की महत्तर सदस्यता". NDTVIndia. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Prof. Namvar Singh to be conferred Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar". Business Standard India. 22 September 2014 – via Business Standard.
  12. ↑ "Professors Emeritus/Emerita, JNU". Archived from the original on 15 November 2015.
  13. ↑ Sahni, Bhisham (10 November 2015). Today's Pasts: A Memoir. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-85890-19-2 – via Google Books.
  14. ↑ "Namwar Singh appointed Chancellor of International Hindi University". Oneindia. 26 June 2006.
  15. ↑ Barua, Brahmanda Pratap (20 February 1992). National Policy on Library and Information Systems and Services for India: Perspectives and Projections. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-730-2 – via Google Books.
  16. ↑ "JNANPITH AWARD, Present Selection Board". Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  17. ↑ Nandgaonkar, Satish (6 February 2015). "Marathi novelist Bhalchandra Nemade chosen for Jnanpith award". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  18. ↑ वर्मा, Kamlesh Verma कमलेश (15 June 2016). "Namvar's Kabir". Forward Press.
  19. ↑ "Namvar Singh gets felicitated".
  20. ↑ "Shri Rajnath Singh Felicitates Prof. Namvar Singh at 'First Cultural Dialogue Series' of IGNCA". pib.nic.in.
  21. ↑ "Akademi Award (1955–2016)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  22. ↑ "शलाका सम्मान - Bharatkosh". bharatdiscovery.org.
  23. ↑ "90 के नामवर: साहित्यिक योगी का जीवन जीते रहे हैं नामवर सिंह". 28 July 2016.

dr namvar singh founder of narayani sahitya academy

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